Hybrid

Johnny's Potomac Summer Berry Blend

Antirrhinum majus

Wikimedia Commons

Harvest

110-120d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

7–10

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

0-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Johnny's Potomac Summer Berry Blend in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

Click a state to update dates

Johnny's Potomac Summer Berry Blend · Zones 7–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing6-8 inches

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil

WaterRegular, consistent moisture

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorDelicate floral taste with a slightly bitter undertone.

ColorRed, lavender, and pink blend

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Succession Planting

Potomac Summer Berry Blend runs 110–120 days from seed to bloom, so you're not staggering cuts every two weeks the way you would with a cut-and-come-again crop — you're working around the heat wall. In zone 7, start the first tray indoors in early February for a bloom window that opens in late May. A second sow in early March, transplanted out in late April, gives you a modest stagger of a few weeks. Don't push transplants past mid-May; anything going into the ground after that will be trying to set buds while daytime highs are climbing past 90°F, and Potomac types tend to stall hard rather than push through.

Complete Growing Guide

We've selected this color blend in a beautiful berry shade theme to create a pleasing mix for the garden and easy market bunches. Group 3-4: Warm season snapdragons are bred for optimal performance under long days, high light levels, and warm temperatures. Mix contains shades of red, lavender, and pink. Colors are subject to change depending upon availability. Edible Flowers: The flowers are a colorful garnish for use in salads, desserts, and drinks. The flavor is floral and slightly bitter, so use sparingly. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Johnny's Potomac Summer Berry Blend is 110 - 120 days to maturity, annual, hybrid (f1). Notable features: Easy Choice, Greenhouse Performer, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Edible Flowers, Fragrant.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium.

Harvesting

Johnny's Potomac Summer Berry Blend reaches harvest at 110 - 120 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

A capsule, half hidden by calyx lobes, short-beaked.

Type: Capsule. Length: 1-3 inches.

Storage & Preservation

Store freshly cut Potomac Summer Berry Blend snapdragons in a cool location (50-55°F) in a vase with clean water. Change water every 2-3 days and remove lower foliage to prevent bacterial growth. Shelf life is 7-10 days when properly maintained. For preservation, air-dry bunches upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks to create long-lasting dried arrangements. Alternatively, press individual blooms between paper for 1-2 weeks to preserve for crafts or decoration. Freezing in water (ice block method) is also viable for preserving color intensity for future decorative use, though texture will soften upon thawing.

History & Origin

Johnny's Potomac Summer Berry Blend is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Southwestern Europe

Advantages

+Beautiful berry color blend creates visually striking garden and market arrangements
+Easy difficulty level makes it ideal for novice and busy gardeners
+Edible flowers add unique culinary garnish options to salads and desserts
+Warm season snapdragon thrives in summer heat with long daylight hours
+110-120 day maturity provides reliable flowering within standard growing season

Considerations

-Floral bitter flavor requires sparing use to avoid overpowering dishes
-Color variation between plants makes uniform market bunches unpredictable and inconsistent
-Snapdragons susceptible to rust and powdery mildew in humid conditions
-Requires full sun and warm temperatures limiting growing locations and seasons

Companion Plants

Marigolds and sweet alyssum are the two worth prioritizing. French marigold types like 'Bonanza' put out a scent that confuses and deters aphids and whiteflies — both of which hit snapdragons regularly — and they do it passively all season without any work on your part. Sweet alyssum, planted at the bed edge, pulls in hoverflies and parasitic wasps that keep soft-bodied pest populations from getting out of hand. Nasturtiums earn a spot as a trap crop: aphids tend to pile onto them first, which buys your snapdragons some breathing room. Skip anything planted under or near black walnut — juglone toxicity from the roots will stunt snapdragons badly, and in our zone 7 Georgia summers, a plant that's already heat-stressed by late June doesn't need the extra handicap.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, attract pollinators

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps for pest control

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting bees and butterflies

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides structure without competing for nutrients

Zinnia

Attracts ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and butterflies for natural pest control

Sunflowers

Provide beneficial shade and attract pollinators and pest-eating birds

Borage

Attracts bees and beneficial insects while repelling hornworms and cabbage worms

Keep Apart

Black Walnut Trees

Release juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Produces allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants

Dense Shade Trees

Create too much shade and compete for water, reducing flowering and plant vigor

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Aphids, spider mites, whiteflies

Diseases

Powdery mildew, root rot, rust

Troubleshooting Johnny's Potomac Summer Berry Blend

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing first on older leaves in mid-summer

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — triggered by warm days, cool nights, and poor airflow
Plants spaced too close together at less than 6 inches apart

What to Do

1.Remove and bag the worst-affected leaves immediately — don't compost them
2.Spray foliage with a diluted potassium bicarbonate solution (1 tbsp per gallon of water) every 7 days
3.Next planting, space at the full 8 inches and avoid overhead irrigation

Stems collapsing at soil level on seedlings or recently transplanted starts, roots dark and mushy

Likely Causes

Root rot (Phytophthora or Pythium spp.) from waterlogged soil or beds with poor drainage
Overwatering during cool, cloudy stretches when the plant isn't actively transpiring

What to Do

1.Pull and discard affected plants — there's no saving them once the crown is gone
2.Let the bed dry out for 5–7 days before replanting, and amend heavy clay soil with perlite or coarse compost
3.Water at the base, not overhead, and only when the top inch of soil is dry

Orange or rust-colored pustules on the undersides of leaves, with yellowing on the upper surface directly above them

Likely Causes

Snapdragon rust (Puccinia antirrhini) — a fungal disease that spreads rapidly in humid conditions above 60°F
Overhead watering or rain that keeps foliage wet for extended periods

What to Do

1.Strip and trash affected leaves at first sign — rust moves fast once it gets a foothold
2.Apply a sulfur-based fungicide every 10–14 days as a preventive if rust has hit this bed in previous seasons
3.Rotate snapdragons out of the same bed for at least one full season

Distorted new growth, sticky residue on stems and leaves, sometimes with small ants trailing up the stems

Likely Causes

Aphid colonies (commonly Myzus persicae or Aphis gossypii) feeding on soft new tissue
Whiteflies (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) — flip a leaf and look for tiny white adults that scatter when disturbed

What to Do

1.Blast aphids off with a firm stream of water from the hose — do this 3 mornings in a row
2.For whiteflies or persistent aphid pressure, apply insecticidal soap directly to leaf undersides, repeating every 5–7 days
3.Plant sweet alyssum within 12–18 inches to draw in parasitic wasps that suppress aphid populations through the season

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Johnny's Potomac Summer Berry Blend snapdragons last in a vase?▼

With proper care, these snapdragons typically last 7-10 days in a vase. Change the water every 2-3 days, trim stem ends at an angle, and remove lower foliage to extend longevity. Place them in a cool location away from direct heat and ripening fruit. Ensure the vase is clean to prevent bacterial growth, which can shorten their lifespan significantly.

Are snapdragons good for beginners to grow?▼

Yes, Johnny's Potomac Summer Berry Blend snapdragons are excellent for beginners. They're classified as easy to grow and are warm-season Group 3-4 varieties bred for reliable performance. They thrive in full sun to partial shade and don't require special care. Start seeds indoors before the last frost or direct sow after soil warms. They're forgiving plants that reward minimal effort with abundant, beautiful blooms.

Can you grow snapdragons in containers?▼

Absolutely. Snapdragons grow well in containers with well-drained potting soil. Choose pots at least 6-8 inches deep to accommodate root growth. Place containers in locations receiving 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily. Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Container-grown snapdragons may have slightly shorter stems but produce beautiful bunches suitable for market sales or garden display.

What do snapdragon flowers taste like?▼

Snapdragon flowers have a delicate, floral taste with a slightly bitter undertone. They're edible and can garnish salads, desserts, and cocktails, adding visual appeal and subtle flavor complexity. Use them sparingly since the bitterness can overpower dishes. The berry-shaded colors of this blend make them especially attractive for culinary decoration, offering both aesthetic beauty and subtle gustatory interest to sophisticated presentations.

When should I plant Johnny's Potomac snapdragons?▼

For warm-season Group 3-4 snapdragons like Potomac, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, or direct sow after soil warms and frost danger passes. These varieties thrive in warm temperatures and long daylight hours. In warmer climates, you can succession plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous blooms. They typically reach harvest maturity in 110-120 days from planting.

What's included in the berry shade color blend?▼

Johnny's Potomac Summer Berry Blend contains a beautiful mix of shades in red, lavender, and pink tones. The blend is specially selected to create pleasing, coordinated garden displays and convenient market bunches. Colors may vary slightly depending on seed availability and growing conditions. This curated color selection makes it ideal for florists and gardeners seeking cohesive, professional-looking flower arrangements without the need to combine multiple varieties.